Learn basket weaving in La Gomera with a local botanist

Braid palm into a basket and learn why the island's farmers still make them

A six-hour class in the village of Agulo where you learn traditional basket weaving from palm brooms while an organic farmer and botanist teaches you about La Gomera's plants, agriculture and sustainable rural life. The instructor provides all materials and tools, a Canarian snack from her garden, and you leave with a finished, recyclable basket you made yourself. Live instruction in English, Spanish, German or Czech. Children welcome from age 10.

The experience

What makes someone want to learn basket weaving in a place they've never been? Usually it's the person teaching it. Zdenka, an organic farmer and botanist, runs this class in Agulo, a green mountain village on La Gomera, and the weaving is only half the story. You start with a walk through the village learning about the Canary date palm: its botany, how islanders have used it for centuries, the details most visitors never notice. Along the way you collect palm brooms, the raw material for the baskets you'll make. Back in the workshop, you prepare them for weaving while Zdenka talks about her own path to sustainable farming and what draws her to the island's natural treasures.

The actual weaving takes up the second half of the day. You learn the traditional technique with your hands, working with the tools Zdenka provides, and by the end you have a finished basket. One you made, not one you watched someone else make. It's the kind of thing that sounds simple until you try it, and most people find themselves surprised by how satisfying the repetition becomes. Midway through, Zdenka serves homemade Canarian snacks from her own garden, so you're eating what grows on the island while learning about it.

The whole experience runs six hours, which means it takes up most of a day but leaves the morning or evening free depending on your schedule. You'll need to be reasonably comfortable with hand work and fine motor control: the operator notes that basket weaving is usually too intricate for children under ten, though older kids and adults of any fitness level can do it.

What’s included

• Palm broom material for weaving.
• all weaving tools.
• homemade Canarian snacks from the instructor's garden.
• your finished basket to take home.

Days and timesThu · 10:00

AgesAges 18+ · 13 to 17 years · 10 to 12 years — Free · Under 10 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “We will meet at the bus stop of Agulo”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gomera Rural Life Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want hands-on basket weaving with a working farmer-botanist rather than a lecture. You'll need a full day to learn the craft properly and hear her stories about sustainable living on the island.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Czech.

Can children come?

13 to 17 years; 10 to 12 years, free. Under 10: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What exactly will I learn to make during this class?

You'll weave a recyclable basket from palm brooms using traditional Gomera techniques. Zdenka teaches you the braiding method by hand, and you leave with the finished basket you created yourself.

How much of the six hours is actually spent weaving versus walking and talking?

The class starts with a walk through Agulo where you learn about the Canary date palm and collect the palm brooms you'll use. The second half focuses on preparing the material and weaving your basket in the workshop.

What's included in the price, and do I need to bring anything?

The class includes all palm broom material, weaving tools, and a homemade Canarian snack from Zdenka's garden. You don't need to bring anything except comfortable clothes for a walk and time to focus on the work.